The Dunes of Almograve

This circular route is an excellent option for those looking for a short walk. Coinciding with part of the Fishermen’s Trail, it offers an insight on the agricultural side of the region, offering a great coastal walk by the vast sand stretch of the beach of Brejo Largo.

Beach of Brejo Largo

As you reach the beach of Brejo Largo, you are stepping into the amazing Fishermen’s Trail, on the section Vila Nova de Milfontes » Almograve. Take your time and go down to the beach for a swim, you’ll see it makes all the difference.

Route Marking

Circular Routes are marked with yellow and red markers. Along the coast, when this route coincides with the Fishermen’s Trail (blue and green), route markers have both sets of colors.

Crossing the beach of Foz dos Ouriços

The tides and the rainy season have a strong influence on this beach, and the crossing is always different and a challenge. For your safety, choose your way carefully, be prepared to jump from one stone to another or remove your boots.

European pond turtle

The European pond turtle is the rarest of Portuguese fauna and is classified as an endangered species. It can live between 40 to 60 years in the wild and 100 years in captivity. Their predators are boar, Egyptian Mongoose, rats, diurnal birds of prey, crows and herons.

Circular Routes

The Dunes of Almograve

8 km

This circular route is an excellent option for those looking for a short walk. Coinciding with part of the Fishermen’s Trail, it offers an insight on the agricultural side of the region, offering a great coastal walk by the vast sand stretch of the beach of Brejo Largo.

OPEN MAP

This circular route allows you to experience one of the most marked dichotomies of the Sw Alentejo – conservation of nature vs intensive farming. The former is first and foremost a moral imperative for future generations, the latter a priority for the survival of current generations. Management of this dichotomy is one of the biggest challenges of local and national agents today.

The geomorphology of this stretch of coast, and in particular at Foz dos Ouriços, is notable. Folds, faults, discordances and extensive networks of quartz seams, make these cliffs a geological manual where the history of the last 300 ma of the planet is told live.

The flora of the dunes is rich and scented. Rosemary, lavender, crowberry, myrtle, lentiscus, immortelle and camphorated thyme, are just some of the species that are present throughout the route. There is also an abundance of mammals on the dunes who build their systems of burrows under the dense scrub of the more set back dunes.

The most common are the Rabbit, the Egyptian Mongoose (locally known as “Escalabardo”), the Beech Marten (also known as “Papalvo”), Badger, Genet and Otter.

In the innermost section of the route there are several temporary ponds, one of the most unique and protected habitats of the Natural Park, where European pond turtle is a protected species.

Tips

Refreshments along the way

Only at Almograve village.

Lapa das Pombas fishing harbour

As you arrive at the car parking area of the beach of Almograve and before returning to the village, follow the dirt track ahead of you and go up to the fishing harbour. This will add 3.8 km to the walk (round trip).

Where to start

At the roundabout, going on the “Rua do Chafariz” and passing the public wash house. Ahead follow the trail signs pointing left.

Note:

Although the route is marked in both directions we suggest you walk it anticlockwise.

Fact Sheet

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT

DISTANCE: 8 KM
APPROXIMATE DURATION: 2.5 HOURS

ACCUMULATED CLIMB: 58 M
ACCUMULATED DESCENT: 58 M

MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 40 M
MINIMUM ALTITUDE: 2 M

RECOMMENDED SEASON:
SEPTEMBER TILL JUNE

Warnings

Difficulty level

Although it has no steep ascents, this route has much sand and a river crossing.

Route Marking

Circular Routes are marked with yellow and red markers. Along the coast, when this route coincides with the Fishermen’s Trail (blue and green), route markers have both sets of colours. Pay attention to markers and study the map in order to understand the points at which the two routes split.

Crossing the beach of Foz dos Ouriços

The tides and the rainy season have a strong influence on this beach, and the crossing is always different and a challenge. For your safety, choose your way carefully, be prepared to jump from one stone to another or remove your boots. On days when the sea is raging, do not cross the river, instead follow Fishermen’s Trail till Almograve.